Today is Friday, December 10th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1965
Written by Sue Monk Kidd and taken from a daily devotional book, something printed for December 12:
"For a man's heart determines his speech."
~ Matthew 12:34
"Last year my husband and I attended a staff Christmas party at the college where Sandy works. There was to be a gift exchange, but Sandy insisted we didn't need to bring anything.
"'We're not giving the kind of gift you're thinking of,' he said. 'You'll see.'
"My curiosity was aroused when after dinner, one by one the employees rose to give their gifts. And indeed they were not anything that could be wrapped up. It cost nothing, yet it was priceless. For ech one gave a verbal gift--co-workers looked at one another and out flowed the gifts. One said, 'You have been such a help to me, taking the time to listen to my problems.' Another spoke of the encouragement the other had given him during a difficult time There were exchanges of gratitude, admiration, thanks, and praise. There were even tears shared that drew the group closer together.
"And I could not help bu think that this kinds of gift-giving was closer to the spirit of love and sharing than hurried purchases we sometimes make in stores. A heart-to-heart, face-to-face gift of words.
"So this year, in addition to the kind of presents which usually crowd beneath our tree, we plan to draw names among our family members so we can each prepare a special gift for one another--gifts of the heart."
"This Christmas help me to bestow on someonteI love the gift
that is deep within my heart,
dear Lord."
***
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